Halloween Events in California

Published by Nelson Misik

That spooky time of the year is coming, and in the state of California, revelers are getting ready!

Here is just a sampling of some great celebrations for Californians or visitors who love to celebrate Halloween.

Halloween Harvest Festival, Woodland Hills

If you’re looking for a little bit of everything in a Halloween celebration, you can find it at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California.

The Halloween Harvest Festival in Woodland Hills takes place from September 28 to November 4. It features a Haunted Trail and Haunted House, a pumpkin patch, farm animals and a hay ride. There’s also a corn maze and activities and rides for the kids. This one looks like it has something for everyone!

You can find out all about the festivities here:

http://www.halloweenharvestfestival.com/

Huntington Beach Halloween Celebration

For the past ten years on October 31, Main Street in Huntington Beach has closed starting at 4 p.m. for the celebration of Halloween. Children can trick or treat at the shops, go on pony rides, visit a petting zoo, participate in a costume contest, and much more. The best part is it’s all free!

Knott’s “Scary” Farm

Every year on Halloween, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California becomes Knott’s Scary Farm. You won’t get in free to this theme park event. The tickets to this event are $46 in advance and $51 at the gate. California Burger Kings do have discount coupons available. If you can fork over $2016, your group of up to six can enter as “Very Important Monsters” and get personal guided tours and front-of-the-line maze privileges, along with other benefits.

There are seven separate stage shows at the Scary Farm. There’s a CarnEVIL, lots of scary mazes and most of the rides are open along with some special scary ones. Monsters abound behind every pillar and post! The Scary Farm is known for being especially gory and it’s suggested that tiny tots be left at home to trick or treat. The Scary Farm is open September 27-30, October 3-7, 10-14, 17-21 and 24-31.

http://www.knotts.com/

Art and Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay

Although not held on Halloween, this festival features lots of spooky activities. There’s a pumpkin patch to pick out your future jack-o-lantern, a haunted barn, and scary stage shows. There are plenty of competitions, including a carving contest and pie-eating contest, as well as coloring, scarecrow and costume contests.

This event also features a craft show, a giant pumpkin weigh-in, as well as winery and ale booths for the grownups.

The festival is held on Main Street in Half Moon Bay on October 13 & 14. Read more here:

http://www.miramarevents.com/pumpkinfest/

Ghost Hunt, Yermo

This event will be held October 19, 20, 21 and 26, 27, 28. It takes place in the actual Ghost Town of Calico and features a very spooky Haunted Mine.

There are tarot card readers and magic shows, “blood panning” for gold, a gunfight show, and Halloween arcades.

Along with the scarier events there are more traditional Halloween activities for the smaller kids like not as scary ghost story reading, trick or treating and face painting.

The Calico Ghost Hunt sounds like a real treat! For more information, please check it out here:

http://www.calicotown.com/index.php

Spooktacular – Vintage 1870, Yountville

Beginning October 5, through October 31, the free event in California wine country features ghouls and monsters roaming the halls from 10 a.m. till 5:30.

A unique feature of the Spooktacular is a scarecrow-building contest for kindergarten through sixth grade students. It’s held at the Vintage 1870 & Compadres Bar & Grill.
You can find out more about the 2016 Spooktacular in Yountville by calling 707:944-2451.

Calabasas Pumpkin Festival

You can find your perfect Halloween carving pumpkin here! The festival will be held on October 20 and 21st. Lots of fun activities are planned, including hay rides, stage shows, crafts fair (including one for the kids!), petting zoo and reptile-amphibian display, as well as a car show and lots of rides.

There will also be contests at the Pumpkin Festival, including pumpkin pie eating and seed-spitting contests!

Find out all the details here:

http://www.calabasaspumpkinfestival.com/

Haute Dog Howl’Oween Parade & Pet Adoption Fair

And now for something different! Dog lovers will love this fun parade of costumed canines. You can register your dog to parade down 12 blocks of sidewalk on Second Street in Long Beach. There are plenty of prizes awarded, and your pooch and kids will have a ball!

Besides the doggie parade, there’s a Bulldog-kissing booth, bobbing for Hallo’weenies, a dog treat stacking contest and a pet adoption fair. There is a kid’s costume contest as well. This event is held on October 28.

Visit for details here:

http://www.hautedogs.org/howloween.html

Disneyland Halloween

Of course you can’t think of a celebration in Southern California without thinking of Disneyland! Halloween offers special treats for visitors to Disneyland. The Haunted Mansion is turned into a “Nightmare Before Christmas” spectacle. Jack-o-Lanterns are displayed in the Main Street shop windows, and Mickey’s planter is transformed into a Mickey-shaped pumpkin patch. There are pumpkin replicas of all the Disney characters to enjoy.

Mickey’s Halloween Treat is a new private party opportunity with spooky crafts, Treat Stations the small children can visit, games, music and other features.
The Disney Halloween Festivities run from the last week in September until October 31.

Six Flags Magic Mountain Halloween, Los Angeles

Fright Fest takes place Friday through Sunday on October 6-31 as well as Monday through Wednesday October 29-31.

If you’re adventurous, you can ride giant roller coasters — completely in the dark! There are haunted mazes, haunted mansions and even a haunted planet with especially scary alien monsters! Also for the braver participants, you can win a prize by lying in the Coffin of Fear crawling with mealworms.

For smaller children, there is trick or treating, costume contests, face painting and a kids’ crafts area.

Read more about the spooky Magic Mountain Halloween experience:

http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/index.aspx

Don’t be afraid! If you can’t make it to the fun and scary events listed here, check your local entertainment guide listings, you’re sure to find something for everyone close to you!